DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Russia brings back children of IS fighters from Iraq The first flight carrying Russian children of "Islamic State" (IS) militants landed in Russia after leaving Baghdad on Sunday. The group included 16 girls and 14 boys aged between 3 and 15, Russian officials said. Out of 30 minors on board the flight, 24 were from the Muslim-majority Russian state of Dagestan, three from Chechnya, one from the southwest city of Penza and one from Moscow, said Chechnya strongman Ramzan Kadyrov in an online post. He later added that the effort to retrieve Russian citizens would not be stopped "as long as there is one more child and one more woman in Iraq and Syria." With "IS" virtually purged from most of its former strongholds, many foreign-born militants are dead or imprisoned in Iraq and Syria. Governments have been hesitantto repatriate their family membersfor fear of importing terrorism.
Thousands protest over David Dragicevic death in Bosnia Several thousand people marched through Banja Luka, the main city ofBosniaʼs Republika Srpska, demanding accountability over the death of 21-year-old student David Dragicevic. Like previous protests, the Sunday rally was led by Davidʼs father, Davor Dragicevic. Following the rally, riot police dispersed dozens of protesters who remained on the streets, with local media reporting several people had been detained. Addressing the crowd, Davor restated his accusations that his son was kidnapped, tortured, and eventually murdered by members of Republika Srpska police. He also urged the protesters to join him and camp out at a local square until the perpetrators are found. "If you donʼt stand by this, they will kill you all," Dragicevic said. "Iʼm not leaving. Everyone should come and stay as long as they could based on their conscience and obligations."
2/2019 • 3 JANUARY, 2019
ʼDemocracy thrives on changeʼ Angela Merkelʼs New Yearʼs speech:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeals to the public spirit in her own country and evokes the idea of a stronger EU in her New Yearʼs address. Her answer to international crises: greater responsibility for Germany.
2019 brings Germans greater fear of old-age poverty More and more Germans are worried about not being able to make ends meet when they retire, a new study has shown. Rising energy costs and low interest rates are also feeding fears of financial insecurity. More than half of all Germans are afraid of being financially insecure in old age, German newspaper Die Welt reported, citing a study from the Ernst & Young (EY) consulting company on consumer trust for 2019. With a rapidly aging population, Germanyʼs pension system is under stress, and rising living costs, low interest rates, and the growth of thetemporary and lowwage employmentmean that many people face challenges to achieving fi-
nancial security for their retirement. "Many Germans no longer think that their pension is secure," said Bernhard Lorentz, one of the studyʼs authors and the head of EYʼs Government & Public Sector. "Politicians must take these worries seriously." "The low interest rates we currently have are making it much more difficult to build wealth and prepare privately for retirement," he added. Illness, environment also cause worry For the second year in the row, thefear of poverty in old agewas the fastest growing category. A total 56 percent of all respondents were either very or slightly scared of financial insecurity in old age, an 18 percent jump from 2017.
Is Israel interfering in German cultural policy? The German government has been asked in an anonymous letter to reconsider its support for NGOs such as "Brot für die Welt" (Bread for the World) and to cut funding to the Jewish Museum Berlin. What is going on? "The German promotion of nongovernmental organizations that intervene in Israelʼs internal affairs or promote anti-Israel activities is unparalleled," says the letter, which was sent without sender and signature to the German daily taz, most likely from Israel. "We would like the Federal Gov-
ernment to tie its further financial support to the complete halt of such activities." The author demanded that the federal government "review its funding guidelines." In concrete terms, the financing of a total of twelve NGOs with their partners in Israel and Palestine, is being questioned. This includes organizations such as Brot für die Welt and Misereor, as well as various political foundations such as the Green party-aligned Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Jewish Museum Berlin and the Berlinale film festival.
Jewish immigration to Israel increases in 2018 Immigration by Jews to Israel rose by 5 percent over the past year, with 29,600 people moving to the country in 2018, according to figures released on Sunday by the state immigration organization "Jewish Agency for Israel." More than 10,500 of the Jewish immigrants came from Russia, the agency said, an increase of some 45 percent over 2017. In contrast, immigration from Russiaʼs neighbor, Ukraine, went down by 9 percent to 6,500. Argentina saw a spike of 17 percent more Jews relocating to Israel, though the number of immigrants coming from the country was far more modest at 330. The number of immigrants coming from the US and Canada remained stable at 3,500, while immigration from France dropped 25 percent to 2,660 people. Just 660 came from the UK and 330 from Brazil, a drop of 4 percent in each case.
US policy spreads gloom in Iran Bahareh Hedayat canʼt see any sense in Americaʼs policy. "The United States has been imposing sanctions on one country or another for 50 years: Cuba, Libya, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Where, in which country, has it achieved its aims?” she asked, rhetorically, in an interview with DW. Hedayat is an Iranian activist for womenʼs and for human rights. "The economic situation in Iran has worsened," she said. "A lot of newly created jobs have been lost. Now the system is again looking for ways to bypassthe sanctions, and in doing so it leaves the door wide open for corruption. Ultimately, itʼs the ordinary people in Iran who have to suffer the consequences."
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2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
Italian health czar resigns over governmentʼs ʼantiscientific positionsʼ The president of Italyʼs national health research organization, who announced that he was stepping down from his position in December, said Monday that the anti-scientific positions and xenophobic views of members of the current populist government were behind his resignation. Inan interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Walter Ricciardi of Italyʼs National Institute of Health (ISS) said that, "Representatives of the government have endorsed unscientific or frankly anti-scientific positions on many issues." Ricciardi also said that after four and a half years at the institute, he had achieved the goals he set out to accomplish: the financial recovery, reorganization and relaunch of the ISS. Italy is currently governed by the far-right Northern League and the populist Five Star Movement (FSM). Italyʼs ʼanti-vaxʼ populist politicians Ricciardi aimed his criticism at League head and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also the deputy prime minister. "Itʼs clear that when the deputy prime minister says that he, as a father, believes there are too many vaccines, and that they are useless and dangerous, that itʼs not just an unscientific approach. Itʼs anti-scientific."
Germany captain Manuel Neuer speaks of ʼnew spiritʼ in national team
Financial woes hit Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion label
German online shoppers are serial returners
Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion label has been struggling to turn a profit, but the ex-Spice Girl is not giving up just yet. Still, itʼs unclear if business fortunes will change anytime soon.
German shoppers return roughly 12 percent of online purchases, a new poll by digital industry association Bitkom shows. Two years ago, the figure was 10 percent. One-third of shoppers said they send back every tenth item, 14 percent admitted to returning a quarter of all purchases. "The share of returns is extremely high and rising steadily, especially in certain sectors, like the fashion industry," says Julia Miosga, who heads Bitkomʼs trade and logistics department. The 14 to 29-year-olds are the worst offenders, with a hefty 18 percent of purchases being returned. Overall, women return 15 percent of items bought online, men only make up 9 percent of the total figure. Retailers are increasingly looking for ways to make it easier to buy the right product and size online by giving more detailed information – specifically about clothes – via chats, product descriptions, 360 degree pictures and videos. Some also reward honest feedback with vouchers and discounts.
Beckham Brand Holdings, the company that runs David and Victoria Beckhamʼs business empire, reportedly paid out 30 million pounds (€35 million, $38 million) in dividends to the coupleeven after profits in Victoriaʼs part of the company tanked. The companyʼs pretax profits fell 20 percent, to 15.7 million pounds, as losses rose at Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion business, despite revenue rising by 17 percent, to
55.7 million pounds. Victoria Beckhamʼs business losses rose from 8.5 million pounds to 10.3 million pounds in 2017, and the unit was only helped by writing off almost 7 million pounds in debts that the business owed to David Beckhamʼs firm and the parent company. Victoria Beckham Limited then raised 30 million pounds from NEO Investment Partners, in return for a 28 percent stake in the business.
Galapagos bans fireworks to save wildlife Ecuador has banned most fireworks in the archipelago, just days before New Yearʼs celebrations. Conservationists say the explosions cause damage to the islandsʼ wildlife. Ecuadorʼs government has banned the use and sale of most fireworks on the Galapagos Islands to protect the archipelagoʼs unique fauna. The ban comes just days before New Yearʼs celebrations that traditionally see fireworks set off across Latin America and the rest of the world. Fireworks that produce light but no noise have
been exempted from the ban. Conservationists have said the sounds of explosions cause elevated heart rates, nervous stress and anxiety among animals on the islands, which are home to several endemic species including iguanas and tortoises. The new rule bars the entry, sale and distribution of any fireworks that cause noise on the archipelagoʼs 13 main islands and at least 17 islets that lie about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) off the coast of Ecuador. "This is a gift for Ecuador and the world," Lorena Tapia, the president of the Government Council of Galapagos, wrote on Twitter.
Writing in an article posted on the German Football Associationʼs (DFB) website on Wednesday, captain Manuel Neuer conceded that through theirlack of success at the World Cup in Russiaand theNations League,the national team had "lost a lot of credit" with the fans.
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019 Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammy-winning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.
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Bangladesh election: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wins by landslide Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaʼs party has won the general election with a landslide majority, the Election Commission said early on Monday. An alliance dominated by Hasinaʼs Awami League won 288 seats in the countryʼs 300strong parliament. The opposition alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia won just six seats. Election to one seat was not held Sunday and results for another seat were halted by the commission. "My congratulations to the Awami League," Helal Uddin Ahmed, secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, told reporters. Hasinaʼs party was widely anticipated to win the election that was hit by violence and rigging allegations. At least 16 people were reported to have been killed in violence between rival supporters. Hasina, who is set to take office for the third consecutive time and fourth time overall, is credited with improving the countryʼs economy, which grew at a faster rate than neighboring India last year, and giving refuge to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar. But she has also been accused of a crackdown on media and dissent.